TSA To Stop Using Airport X-Ray Scanners That
Produce Image Of A Naked Body

By
Eddy Metcalf

January 20, 2013 - The Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) reported on Friday that is
will discontinue the use of the full-body
scanners that produce naked like body images at
TSA airport check points by June 2013.

TSA reported it is pulling the machines for use
because the company, Rapiscan Systems which
manufactures the Backscatter X-ray system the
Rapiscan Secure 1000 SP is unable to produce
computer software that would turn the almost
nude like images into stick-like figures that
TSA personnel would view rather than a nude
picture of airport passengers.

These machines were installed as an alternative
to personal searches at airport and other
security checkpoints easily penetrating clothing
to reveal concealed weapons. In one TSA trial,
79 percent of the public opted to try
backscatter over the traditional pat-down in
secondary screening.

Over the passed several months the TSA has come
under fire by the ACLU, Electronic Privacy
Information Center, passengers and congress over
the Rapiscan Systems Backscatter X-ray system
because TSA personnel in some instances have
abused the use of naked like body images the
machines produce of airport passengers screened.
The ACLU refers to backscatter x-rays as a
"virtual strip search".

In addition the use of these machines has raises
privacy concerns about what is seen by the
person viewing the scan. Some worry that viewing
the image violates confidential medical
information, such as the fact a passenger uses a
colostomy bag, has a missing limb or wears a
prosthesis, or is transgender.

The TSA will continue to use full-body scanners
as long as the scanners do not produce an naked
body like image. At present the TSA has 174
Rapiscan machines in use.

In a statement by TSA it said "TSA has strict
requirements that all vendors must meet for
security effectiveness and efficiency. Due to
its inability (Rapiscan) to deploy non-imaging
automated target recognition software TSA has
terminated its contract with Rapiscan."

In a statement released by Rapiscan (OSI Systems, Inc.)
it said “Rapiscan Systems, its Security division, has
reached an agreement with the U.S. Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) regarding the Rapiscan
Secure 1000SP Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) systems
and Automated Target Recognition (ATR) software.The agreement relates to the contract underlying
the issues raised in a 'show cause' letter delivered to
the Company by the TSA on November 9, 2012”.

“We are pleased to reach a mutually satisfactory
agreement with the TSA,” OSI Systems President and CEO,
Deepak Chopra, commented. “We have had a close working
relationship with TSA and its predecessor agencies for
the better part of two decades, during which time we
have together pioneered many of the transportation
security technologies in use today.As we continue that relationship, we look forward
to continuing to provide leading-edge technologies and
services to the TSA.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Rapiscan and TSA
determined that the Secure 1000SP, would not be ready to
meet the next level of ATR software by the
congressionally mandated June 2013 deadline. As the
Secure 1000SP has been operated by TSA as an effective
imaging system, TSA plans to deploy these systems, with
Rapiscan’s assistance, to U.S. government agencies that
already rely on the Secure 1000 product line or can
enhance their security programs with the Secure 1000SP.
The agreement enables the U.S. government to continue to
benefit from the investments made by TSA, while allowing
TSA to meet the congressional ATR mandate.The agreement results in the mutually-agreed
conclusion of ATR software development for the Secure
1000SP, but continues Rapiscan’s overall contract with
TSA for AIT systems.